Berklee LA Internship hosted by Alum Richard Gibbs

On June 4^th 2009, 14 Berklee Los Angeles interns found themselves sitting in the craftsman-style living room set up for alum Richard Gibbs’ (’77) studio. Custom built on the back of Gibbs’ home property in Malibu, the Woodshed Recording studio has a unique open-air design and a fabulous view of the Pacific Ocean.

Hearing a squawking sound, Gibbs explained wild parrots live in the area and that sleeping during summer evenings can be impossible due to the local wild peacock mating calls. Gibbs’ dog greeted each guest as they walked in with a friendly bark and his cat even came to snuggle on each interns’ lap as Gibbs spoke about the music industry and his career, film scoring and producing.

Interns asked questions about his writing process (fastest way is paper and pencil, but now he fleshes ideas out via computer), how often he uses mock-ups (every time), and if working for free is detrimental to their career. Gibbs explained he'll cut a deal for close friends and projects that he knows he’ll enjoy working on. “If you have the choice between sitting at home watching TV or working, then work for free. Staying home won’t build your career”.

With catchphrases like “bro-deal” (taken from his beloved surfing world) and “music happy” (a director who wants a lot of music in their project), Gibbs was able to string anecdote after anecdote together to give both the realities of the music industry and create a sense of hope for the future.

While the workshop was scheduled to run two hours, the students didn’t pile back into their cars for the long drive home until three hours later. By then the sun had set over the ocean, but the students carried with them a sense of living a creative life and a stronger bond with the Berklee alumni community.

Justine Taormino

Intern Services Coordinator

Berklee College of Music - LA Internship Program

p)323-326-7479

f)323-375-1668

jtaormino@berklee.edu